Tube shaping device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide a shaping device adapted for shaping the open end of a flexible tube which overcomes or avoids one or more of the foregoing disadvantages resulting from the use of the above-mentioned prior art shaping device and, which fulfills the requirements of such a shaping device for use while supplying flexible tubes to an automatic filling and sealing machine.
Specifically, it is within the contemplation of one aspect of the present invention to provide such a shaping device adapted for use with flexible tubes of soft metal, plastic or laminated material for shaping the open end thereof which has become damaged by exhibiting deformations such as lack of roundness, dents, depressions, flattened portions and the like.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a tube shaping device which is adjustable for shaping the ends of tubes of varying diameter.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a tube shaping device constructed from a body having an opening at one end thereof and a shaping member arranged within the opening extending outwardly.
The shaping member is provided with a base arranged such that the circumferential edge of the base is bound by a portion of the body forming the opening, whereby the shaping member is adapted to be received within a tube end until the tube end lies substantially within a plane containing the base of the shaping member such that the shape of the tube end is conformed to the circumferential shape of the base.
In accordance with the above embodiment, the body is provided with a bore extending therethrough in communication with the opening and wherein the shaping member is adapted for sliding fit within the bore between a plurality of positions whereby the effective diameter of the base varies.
Further in accordance with the above embodiment, the shaping member further includes a cylindrical portion having a plurality of longitudinally extending circumferentially positioned teeth adapted to be received within corresponding longitudinally extending openings provided within the surface portion of the body forming the bore